Connecting element for ski boot

ABSTRACT

A connecting element is provided on a ski boot for allowing the ski and the boot to separate without, however, allowing complete separation, the boot being held to the ski by retention means which can be safety-released or intentionally released when the skier actuates a control lever. One end of the connecting element is received in a part integral with the ski and the other end thereof is received in a part integral with the boot. The connecting element is coupled to the control member which is adapted to move between two positions: a first boot-retaining position in which the retention means is locked and the control lever does not act upon the connecting element; and a second position for unlocking the retention means in which the control member exerts a pull on the retention means in order to unlock it and on the connecting element in order to restore the boot to a position in which it may be conveniently put on again.

Salomon [451 Oct. 29, 1974 1 41 CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR SKI BOOT [76] Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, 34

Avenue cle Loverchy, Annecy, France 22 Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 21 Appl.No.:327,808

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field ofSearch280/1L35 N, 11.35 K, 11.35 P,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,793,869 5/1957 Braun 280/1l.35 R 3,448,989 6/1969 Marker 5 N 3,764,154 10/1973 Witting 280/1 1.35 N FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 65,020 7/1942 Norway 2811/1135 H 462,017 10/1968 Switzerland 280/1 1.35 K

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith [57] ABSTRACT A connecting element is provided on a ski boot for allowing the ski and the boot to separate without, however, allowing complete separation, the boot being held to the ski by retention means which can be safety-released or intentionally released when the skier actuates a control lever. One end of the connecting element is received in a part integral with the ski and the other end thereof is received in a part integral with the boot. The connecting element is coupled to the control member which is adapted to move between two positions: a first boot-retaining position in which the retention means is locked and the control lever does not act upon the connecting element; and a second position for unlocking the retention means in which the control member exerts a pull on the retention means in order to unlock it and on the connecting element in order to restore the boot to a position in which it may be conveniently put on again.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures CONNECTTNG ELEMENT FOR SKI BOOT The present invention relates to a device for restoring a boot to a pre-determined position on a ski after the boot and ski have been separated as a result, for example, of the skier falling.

- The invention is concerned more particularly with a device which includes at least one connecting element between the boot and the ski which allows the boot and ski to move away, after separation, while keeping them connected to each other. The boot is preferably held in its pre-determined position on the ski by retention means designed todisengage whenever an excessive load is applied to the skiers leg.

Devices providing this kind of connection are already known to the tradeas safety straps" and are generally in the from of a tie, which may be extensible or not, one end of which is attached to the ski, or to a part integral with the ski, while the other end is attached to the boot, or to a part integral with the boot.

These devices, however, have certain disadvantages, among which are the following:

it is difficult to restore the boot to its proper position on the ski after the two have become separated, especially if this operation has to be carried out in the snow after a safety release of the retaining means;

it is difficult to remove the boot from the skiers foot when required.

The present invention proposes a device which overcomes these disadvantages, allowing replacement without fumbling, without locating the boot incorrectly on the ski, while still making it possible to remove the boot easily when desired.

' To this end, the invention relates to a device for con necting a boot to a ski, allowing the boot and ski to move away'from each other, but preventing them from becoming totally separated, the boot being held to the ski by a retention means which can be safety-released or intentionally released by actuating a control member; the device comprises at least one connecting element, one end of which is accommodated in a part integral with the ski, and the other end in a part integral v with the boot, the connecting element being independent of the means of retention and not acting upon the boot in any way when the latter is held in position on the ski; the device is characterized in that the connecting element is coupled to the control member which moves between two positions:

a first boot-retaining position in which the retention means is locked and the control member does not act in any way upon the connecting element;

a second position for unlocking the retention means in which the control member exerts a pull, during the movement from the first to the second position, both on the retention means, in order to unlock it, and on the connecting element, in order to restore the boot to a position in which it may be conveniently put on again.

The retention means and the connecting element are arranged in parallel to provide a compact arrangement and to make the device easier to use.

The control member, preferably in the form of a cable associated with a rocking lever adapted to be operated by the skier, may move between an inoperative position in which it exerts no pull on the connecting element (the boot being then fixed to the ski) and an operative position in which it actuates the connecting element, thus bringing the boot and ski together again after they have been separated. It will be observed that the lever may be locked in either of the two extreme positions.

A resilient member, preferably a spring surrounding the cable constituting the connecting element, is located between one of the ends of the cable and one of the parts with which it cooperates, namely the boot (or a part integral therewith) or a movable part located within the part integral with the ski. The operating lever thus acts upon the connecting cable through th resilient element.

The connecting cable, moreover, is preferably of a length such that the boot can separatefrom the ski without placing any load on the resilient elements associated with the connecting cable. In other words, the connecting cable has a certain amount of slack," the purpose of which is to eliminate any restraint on the boot and the ski when they separate. In other words, this slack" is at least equal to the amount of movement of the boot required to release it.

Although the connecting element may. consist of a single cable, itwill preferably be in the form of at least two parallel cables preventing windmilling, i. e. en-

suring that the ski does not rotate in relation to the boot.

According to one example of an embodiment of the invention, the device described above is designed to cooperate with a conventional safety-release binding comprising at least one locking piston arranged to move in an element attached to the ski, the piston being retractable against the action of a resilient mans, such as a spring, and cooperating with one end of the boot or of a part integral therewith.

In this case, according to the invention, the manual control member of the device, and more particularly the rocking lever, is coupled to an actuating part of the locking piston, thus ensuring withdrawal of the piston when the lever exerts a pull on the connecting element.

It will be understood that, under these circumstances, after the boot has become separated from the ski, it is possible by means of a single movement of the lever:

to retract the locking piston in order to leave enough room to replace the boot on the ski;

and to exert on the boot a pull which will effectively guide it into position.

Moving the lever into its position of rest then ensures that the boot is locked to the ski by the piston and halts any action on the connecting element.

Although the invention may be used when the connecting element acts directly upon the boot itself, it will preferably be used to avoid altering the boot and to increase the functional efficiency of the unit in cases where the sole of the boot is temporarily attached to an intermediate part or plate intended to be placed between the boot and the ski. This addition of a plate to the sole of the boot is conventional, ensuring that the release of the binding occurs between the plate and the ski, to which end the locking piston cooperates with a corresponding profile located at one end of the plate. The other end of the plate engages with a locking catch facilitating vertical release.

Various examples of embodiment'of the invention will now be described, by way of non-restrictive examples, in connection with the schematic drawings attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. I is a general, perspective view of the central area of a ski fitted with a safety binding and equipped with the device according to the invention, in one form of embodment;

FIG. la is a section along the line la-la in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section, to an enlarged scale, of the forward part of the binding in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section in plan view along the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectionalong the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5a to 5d are diagrams illustrating the operation of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a second form of embodiment of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a third form of embodiment of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a fourth type of device according to the invention.

The device will be described hereinafter as applied to a system in which the boot is temporarily associated with an intermediate plate for the purpose of skiing. It is to be understood, however, that this is merely a preferred form of embodiment, which is not to be regarded as in any way restrictive.

Moreover, although in the drawings, the connecting device attaches the front of the plate to the ski, it is to be understood that it might also be located at the rear. Finally, the safety binding illustrated is an example and could be replaced by any other suitable system.

In the following description, the same elements will be given the same reference numerals.

In FIGJI, the ski is marked 1, the boot 2, and 3 indicates the intermediate plate temporarily connected to the boot. The plate may, for example, consist of two fittings 4 and 6 joined together by rigid stays 7. Front fitting 4 comprises a housing 5 engaging with, and retaining the front end of the boot, the latter being secured to the plate by a conventional locking system generally marked 8 and consisting of a stirrup, the sloping arms 9 of which are hinged in holes 10 ofa series of adjusting holes made in fitting 6, while horizontal portion 11 thereof carries a rocking lock 12 which presses the sole against plate 3. Release is effected merely by pushing the projecting end of lock 12, which moves the stirrup away from, the boot.

Rear fitting 6 on plate 3 terminates in a wedgeshaped tongue having converging lateral surfaces 13' and a sloping plane 13 intended to fit under a corresponding profile 14 in a catch 15 integral with the ski. This catch may be in the form of a horizontal plate, as shown, spaced from the ski by cylindrical studs 17 welded to the horizontal plate, the whole being'attached to the ski by screws 16.

It will be understood that plate 3 is engaged with, or disengaged from, the catch by sliding the plate along the ski.

Located ahead of plate 3 is a locking block generally marked 18 and consisting of an element 19 attached to a base 20 secured to the ski by screws 21. Accommodated within element 19 is a locking piston 22 which is caused to project towards plate 3 by a spring 23. One end of spring 23 is accommodated in a cavity 24 in the rear of piston 22, while the other end rests against a guide sleeve 25 screwed to a threaded rod 26 used to adjust the tension of the spring. Rod 26 has an actuating head 27 which may be accessible from the outside of element 19. Sleeve 25 has a lug 28 running in a slot 29 in element 19, which allows the sleeve to move along rod 26 but prevents it from rotating thereon.

The nose of locking piston 22 may have a profile 30 as shown. When plate 3 is locked to the ski, the nose cooperates with a corresponding profile 31 on the front surface of front fitting 4 of the plate. As may be seen in FIG. 3, this profile in plan view has the shape of a flattened This arrangement ensures the release of plate 3 in the event of both a lateral release and a stress acting vertically.

Hinged to element 19 by an axis 32 is a lever 33, the free end of which carries an actuating ring 34 which allows the skier to exert a pull in the direction of arrow 35.

Also mounted on axis 32 is a piston-unlocking part or cam 36 which moves integrally with lever 33. This cam 36 cooperates with a pin 37 in piston 32 moving in a slot 38 in element 19. The cam profile has a convex surface 39 having two indentations 40' and 41' extended by stop noses, the said indentations respectively ensuring, as will be described hereinafter, that the cam will engage in one of the two positions shown in full and dotted lines in FIG. 2. It will be understood that raising the lever and moving the cam in the direction of arrow 39', into the position shown in dotted lines, causes piston 22 to withdraw in the direction of the arrow, thus freeing the central area of the ski and allowing plate 3 and its boot to be moved.

A description of the connecting system between element l9 and plate 3 will now be given. This system comprises two cables 40, 41, known as connecting cables, running in two longitudinal channels 42, 43 in the base of element 19. These cables emerge from element 19 and pass through channels 44, 45 provided in front fitting 4 of the plate. Cables 40, 41 terminate in stops 40a40b and 4la-4lb.

It will be noted that movement of the cables in element l9 and in fitting 4 is facilitated by widening the ends of the channels as shown at 47 and providing the front face of the fitting with a funnel-shaped cavity 48.

As may be seen more particularly in FIG. 3', a traction part 49, through which cables 40, 41 pass freely, is arranged to move in the interior of element 19. This part 49 is fastened to the end of a tension cable 50 running axially in element 19. Cable 50 fits the rounded front end 51 of element 19 within a guide channel, and its free end is hinged to a lug 52 integral with the bottom surface of lever 33. Located between traction part 49 and front stops 40a4la of cables 40, 41 are springs 53, 54 respectively surrounding corresponding parts of the cables.

Finally, it will be observed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that when the plate is in the locked position shown, rear strops 40b-41b of cables 40, 41 are spaced by a distance I from the face of fitting 4. This distance represents slack which allows the plate to move in relation to its reference position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but without compressing springs 53, 54.

The functioning of the device will now be described in connection with schematic FIGS. 5a to 5d.

The reference positions of the various elements will be taken as being those shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 to 4. This is the positionshown schematically in FIG.

5a, which shows plate 3 locked to the ski by piston 22. It will be observed that in this position the plate is at a distance L from the rear face of element 19.

In the event of a forward fall, for example, plate 3,

which is adapted to move in the plane of the ski, applies a thrust to piston 22. The plate therefore moves forward and then pivots freely upwards, after escaping from catch 15.

The plate, having been released, may now move in relation to the ski, but it remains connected to the latter by cables 40, 41. It is to be understood that the front part of the plate moves in relation to the piston and, at the end of the fall, the plate may be assumed to take up the position shown in FIG. 5b. Thanks to slack L, which by then has been taken up, this movement of the plate has not acted upon springs 53, 54, and rear stops 4012-4112 of the cables have not come up against fitting 4.

traction part 49 which is at present immobile, will push stops 40a-40b back. The cables are thus pulled forward, taking plate 3 along with them and restoring it to its axial position on the ski, as a result of the cooperation betweenthe flat surfaces at the front of the plate and element I9, the piston which is still retracted, and profile 31. This is the position shown in FIG. 5d.

All that theskier then has to do to lock the plate is to push lever 33 towards element 19, the result of which is:

to release the piston from cam 39, the piston being urged by its spring 23 to project; the'piston then pushes the plate backwards, causing the rear tongue thereof to engage in catch to allow the traction part to return to the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 5a.

The unit then assumes the reference position shown in FIG. 5a.

Diagram 6 shows a variant in which front ends 40a-4la of cables 40, 41 are attached directly to traction part 49. sliding in element 19 under the action of the actuating lever. In this variant, springs 53 and 54, surrounding the rear portions of cables 40, 41, are located between rear stops 40b-4lb and the bottom 60 of a cavity in fitting 4 of the plate. In the reference position shown in FIG. 6, slack L in the cables is located as in the previous case.

FIG. 6 makes the functioning of the unit quite clear.

in element 19, however, is identical with that in FIGS. 1

l to 5, and will therefore notbe described in detail.

plate 3. In element 19, the sliding traction part acts upon cable 63 via a single spring 65.

This arrangement is given by way of example, but it has the disadvantage of allowing the ski to windmill" in relation to the boot when it becomes separated therefrom, which is eliminated by a system comprising two or more cables.

The invention having now been set forth and the interest therein justified with the aid of detailed examples, Applicant reserves to themselves exclusive rights thereto for the life of the patent, with no limitations other than those set forth in thefollowing claims.

The invention is, of course, not restricted to the examples of embodiment described above; it covers instead all variants or modifications within the scope of one skilled in the art. For example, although the means for retaining the boot has been described as being integral with the ski, it would be possible, according to a conventional variant, for the means to be arranged on a part integral with the boot.

I claim:

l. A device for connecting a boot to a ski which allows them to move away from each other but prevents their complete separation, said boot being held to said ski by a retention means which can be safety-released or intentionally released when the user actuates a control member, said device comprising at least one connecting element, one end thereof being accommodated in a part secured to the ski, and the other end in a part secured to the boot, said connecting element being independent of said retention means and not acting upon the boot when the latter is held in position on the ski, said connecting element being coupled to said control member which is adapted to move between two positions:

a first boot-retaining position in which the retention means is locked and the control member does not act upon the connecting element;

a second position for unlocking the retention means in which the control member exerts a pull, during the movement from said first to said second position, both on the retention means in order to unlock it, and on the connecting element in order to restore the boot to a position in which it may be conveniently put on again.

2. A device according to claim vl, wherein at least the end of the connecting element accommodated in the part secured to the ski is arranged to move in the interior of said part.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a resilient element is interposed between one end of the connecting member and a part which moves in relation to said part secured to the ski.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said moving part is associated with the control member and moves under the influence thereof.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the moving part is a part of the control member.

6. A device according to claim 3, whereiin the moving part is the part secured to the boot.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the boot is held in its pre-determined position on the ski, at least one end of the connecting element is spaced from the part with which it is adapted to cooperate, the

projecting portion of the connecting element thus al-- lowing the partsecured to the boot to move in relation to the ski, the connecting element remaining motionless in relation to the ski during this movement, and applying no restoring force to the boot.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises at least one cable, at least one end thereof being enlarged to act as a stop.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein a resilient element consisting of a helicoidal spring surrounding a part of the cable is associated therewith, said cable being free to slide within said spring.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control member cooperates with an actuating part on the retention making it possible to unlock the latter at will.

11. A device according to claim 10, in which the retention means on the ski comprises at least one locking piston arranged to move within an element attached to the ski, said piston retracting against the action of a resilient means and cooperating with one end of a part secured to the boot, wherein the control member of the device is coupled to an actuating part on the locking piston which effectively assures retraction of the piston, against the action of its resilient means, whenever the control member exerts a pull on the connecting element.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control member consists of a lever pivoting about an axis integral with the element attached to the ski, and of a control cable one end of which is connected to the pivoting lever, while the other is attached to the connecting element.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the control cable is attached directly to one end of the cable, constituting the connecting element.

14. A device according to claim 9, wherein the spring cooperating with the connecting cable, is arranged in a part secured to the boot and is interposed between a fixed stop on said part and the other end of the cable, constituting the connecting element.

15. A device according to claim 12,-wherein the control cable is attached to a part which slides in the element attached to the ski.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the spring cooperating with the connecting cable, is interposed, in the element attached to the ski, between the sliding piece and the end of the connecting cable.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the other end of the connecting cable, is accommodated so that it slides in the part secured to the boot.

18. A device according to claim 15, wherein the other end of the connecting cable, is attached to the part secured to the boot.

19. A device according to claim 1, in which the boot is secured to an intermediate part temporarily associated therewith and intended to be located between the sole of the boot and the ski, wherein said intermediate part has a centering profile cooperating with a corresponding profile secured to the ski, these two profiles ensuring the retention of said intermediate part, and thus of the boot itself.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the profile secured to the ski is the locking piston.

21. A device according to claim 19 wherein the profile secured to the ski is a flat surface at right angles to the ski and pertaining to the binding element. 

1. A device for connecting a boot to a ski which allows them to move away from each other but prevents their complete separation, said boot being held to said ski by a retention means which can be safety-released or intentionally released when the user actuates a control member, said device comprising at least one connecting element, one end thereof being accommodated in a part secured to the ski, and the other end in a part secured to the boot, said connecting element being independent of said retention means and not acting upon the boot when the latter is held in position on the ski, said connecting element being coupled to said control member which is adapteD to move between two positions: a first boot-retaining position in which the retention means is locked and the control member does not act upon the connecting element; a second position for unlocking the retention means in which the control member exerts a pull, during the movement from said first to said second position, both on the retention means in order to unlock it, and on the connecting element in order to restore the boot to a position in which it may be conveniently put on again.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least the end of the connecting element accommodated in the part secured to the ski is arranged to move in the interior of said part.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a resilient element is interposed between one end of the connecting member and a part which moves in relation to said part secured to the ski.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said moving part is associated with the control member and moves under the influence thereof.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the moving part is a part of the control member.
 6. A device according to claim 3, whereiin the moving part is the part secured to the boot.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the boot is held in its pre-determined position on the ski, at least one end of the connecting element is spaced from the part with which it is adapted to cooperate, the projecting portion of the connecting element thus allowing the part secured to the boot to move in relation to the ski, the connecting element remaining motionless in relation to the ski during this movement, and applying no restoring force to the boot.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises at least one cable, at least one end thereof being enlarged to act as a stop.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein a resilient element consisting of a helicoidal spring surrounding a part of the cable is associated therewith, said cable being free to slide within said spring.
 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control member cooperates with an actuating part on the retention making it possible to unlock the latter at will.
 11. A device according to claim 10, in which the retention means on the ski comprises at least one locking piston arranged to move within an element attached to the ski, said piston retracting against the action of a resilient means and cooperating with one end of a part secured to the boot, wherein the control member of the device is coupled to an actuating part on the locking piston which effectively assures retraction of the piston, against the action of its resilient means, whenever the control member exerts a pull on the connecting element.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control member consists of a lever pivoting about an axis integral with the element attached to the ski, and of a control cable one end of which is connected to the pivoting lever, while the other is attached to the connecting element.
 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the control cable is attached directly to one end of the cable, constituting the connecting element.
 14. A device according to claim 9, wherein the spring cooperating with the connecting cable, is arranged in a part secured to the boot and is interposed between a fixed stop on said part and the other end of the cable, constituting the connecting element.
 15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the control cable is attached to a part which slides in the element attached to the ski.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the spring cooperating with the connecting cable, is interposed, in the element attached to the ski, between the sliding piece and the end of the connecting cable.
 17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the other end of the connecting cable, is accommodated so that it slides in the part secured to the boot.
 18. A device according to claim 15, wherein the other end of the connecting cable, is attached to the part secured to the boot.
 19. A device according to claim 1, in which the boot is secured to an intermediate part temporarily associated therewith and intended to be located between the sole of the boot and the ski, wherein said intermediate part has a centering profile cooperating with a corresponding profile secured to the ski, these two profiles ensuring the retention of said intermediate part, and thus of the boot itself.
 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the profile secured to the ski is the locking piston.
 21. A device according to claim 19, wherein the profile secured to the ski is a flat surface at right angles to the ski and pertaining to the binding element. 